Star Trek: Vulcan Read online

  Hiking

  Rivaled only by Vulcan’s Forge, Lake Yuron offers one of the most diverse hiking environments on the entire planet. A number of the trails here are thousands of years old, connecting the lake to inland ruins and several smaller villages, and many of the paths still contain paving stones placed there millennia ago during the Age of Antiquity. You’ll want to consult with an experienced guide before setting off on your own, as several of the inland villages aren’t welcoming to outworlder visitors.

  DON’T MISS:

  THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT

  This well-worn trail snakes down from the hills along the lake’s southwestern edge to a small cove that is shielded by natural rock formations save for a small passage accessible only to smaller waterborne craft. In ancient times, Adepts—Vulcan acolytes who had attained kolinahr, or the successful purging of all remaining emotions in favor of total logic—would follow the path from the P’Tranek Monastery, located in the foothills above the lake, and use the long walk to free their minds and prepare for meditation after bathing in Yuron’s purifying waters. The path features numerous etchings and paintings on the hillsides and other rock formations, each depicting legends and folklore dating back thousands of years. One such illustration even shows the acolytes mind melding with o’ktath, i’teth, and other underwater denizens.

  Petrified A’kweth Dung

  We couldn’t resist including this small, out-of-the-way exhibit, which you’ll find at the far end of Eridani Beach. A’kweth, known to locals as “underliers,” are large, whalelike creatures that dwell beneath the sands of Vulcan’s deserts. Many scientists believe the animals evolved from an earlier life form that swam in the lake or perhaps even the Voroth Sea. Sightings are rare, as is finding any real proof of their existence. Leave it to the enterprising townspeople of Lake Yuron to make available the only known verified specimen of petrified underlier dung, authenticated by the Vulcan Science Academy. You’ll find no finer holophotographic moment anywhere in the city.

  P’Tranek Monastery

  Plan to spend several hours exploring every nook, cranny, hidden room, and secret passage of this centuries-old retreat for High Masters and their acolytes. For generations, P’Tranek has been a preferred destination for High Masters and other Vulcan elders who desire a temporary respite from the demands of their office. Those who have attained kolinahr are invited to live and study here while renewing their mental discipline and bond with total logic. The hot springs beneath the monastery, tucked away hundreds of feet within the bedrock, provide a rejuvenating cleansing of the body and a tranquil meditation space. Outsiders are welcome, but only during specific hours and on certain days. During these periods, visitors are reminded to observe strict protocols so as not to disturb the shrine’s day-to-day activities.

  Scuba Diving

  Because of its size, Lake Yuron provides ample opportunities for underwater excursions. The area boasts a great number of seasoned dive masters, but if you’re here during uzhaya wak-krus, you may find yourself on a waiting list. Most of the tour groups offer scuba classes and certification. There are dozens of wrecked boats and other vessels littering the lake’s bottom, most of them making for fascinating dive destinations. Be prepared to swim with schools of i’teth and other smaller aquatic life, most of which is harmless. Though some species like the ul’vath are predatory, similar to certain classes of sharks on Earth, those animals tend to keep to deeper water, and attacks on humanoids are rare. Rumors and folktales maintain that several spacecraft, including a few from unknown extraterrestrial visitors, also lie among the wrecks, though no evidence of this has ever been found, and the Vulcan Science Academy routinely publishes vehement denials of such claims. This doesn’t stop adventure seekers from conducting their own excursions to the lake’s bottom in relentless attempts to prove the legends.

  SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT

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  While the options aren’t as numerous as those you might find in one of the larger cities or other tourist centers, shopping in Lake Yuron still offers a nice selection of retail and specialty stores. The usual assortment of curios and other souvenirs can be found in establishments both around town and along the water. Because the lake and surrounding region is popular with artisans of every stripe, you’ll find several shops and galleries displaying their work. Musicians and other performers flock here during festivals and other tourist-friendly events, displaying their talents on the beaches and in the nearby parks. Everything from dueling Vulcan lutists to people juggling ancient combat weapons can be found here. Impromptu street concerts and other live performances are a common sight most evenings, offering an easy way to unwind after a long day on the water. There are few spectacles that can compare to a Klingon street troupe performing The Dream of the Fire, Rock of Ages, or Hamlet (all in Klingonese) in the open-air amphitheater at the head of Eridani Beach.

  Asuvuh Fashion Mall

  A two-minute walk from the beach puts you on the stone paths that wind in and around this intimate cluster of boutique shops. The buildings that make up the mall have stood here for centuries, originally serving as a commune for students studying kolinahr at the nearby P’Tranek Monastery. Just about everything in each of these establishments is handcrafted by local and regional artisans.

  When you’re done buying souvenirs and other mementos of your vacation, be sure to grab lunch at one of the mall’s six restaurants featuring the best regional cuisine in the area. There are also plenty of choices for those seeking outworlder fare. Yonsavas, a succulent fruit grown in abundance in this region, are a signature ingredient in many dishes you’ll find here.

  P’dralek’s Last Chance Bazaar

  Enjoy the simple brilliance of P’dralek’s, one of the most successful retailers on and off planet and the largest discounter of just about anything and everything. Contained within a six-story structure, discontinued clothing, jewelry, home accessories, and personal entertainment are offered at unbelievable savings. The hunt for real bargains is part of the thrill for hard-core shoppers searching through the selection that is refreshed almost daily as inventory is brought in from P’dralek’s locations around the world and points beyond. If you’re seeking spices unique to Vulcan cuisine, jewelry handcrafted from the volcanic rock of Mount Tar’hana, or Vulcan wines and other spirits, this is the place for you.

  DINING AND NIGHTLIFE

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  At Lake Yuron, the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. That’s when the action shifts to the town’s entertainment quarter, where visitors and locals have been known to keep the festivities going until dawn and beyond. While this might not be the best option for anyone looking to unwind after a day packed with sightseeing and other activities, it’s definitely where you want to be if you’re looking for the heart of Lake Yuron’s nighttime party scene.

  Antimatter

  If you’re a lover of trendy modern music and pulse-pounding dance, this is the must-visit club at Lake Yuron. Holographic dancers interact with patrons throughout the club’s five enormous levels of illuminated floors and accompanying elevated platforms, all of it synchronized to a state-of-the-art sound system. Each floor boasts its own bar featuring the town’s largest selection of beer, wine, and spirits. Don’t leave without trying the club’s signature drink, the tolik sour fizz, made from the juices of the succulent tolik fruit, that is just as intoxicating as any cocktail you’ll find. Trust us; you’ll only need one. If you can make it, come for Noncorporeal Night on Thursdays, which has to be seen (or not?) to be believed.

  Derelict Ship Dive Shop and Diner

  This small, unique “joint” is housed within the wrecked hull of a centuries-old sailing ship that ran aground during a fierce hurricane. The vessel, one of the last to use steam as a source of power, sat undisturbed for decades when its owners declared the ship a loss, after which an opportunistic Vulcan claimed it and began repairing and renovating it. He added a support structure that includes part of the restaurant as wel
l as a functioning dive tour company and supply shop. The diner’s menu is basic fare, but the diving charters include tours of other wrecks claimed by the lake.

  Okona’s Outrageous Emporium

  Visitors pack this beachside bar long after the sun sets, continuing the party until dawn. Started a decade ago by a Terran freighter captain who’d grown tired of hauling cargo, Okona’s has become a favorite waterfront party haven, thanks to the broad range of live bands who command each of its three stages. One of the lake’s best-stocked bars is complemented by a menu jammed with Earth delicacies. If you’re going to travel hundreds of light-years for a pizza, this is the place to find it.

  “Spring Break” at Lake Yuron

  There are three reasons you may end up at Lake Yuron during the popular uzhaya wak-krus, or season of renewal: You want to be part of the scene, you had no idea your vacation dates coincided with this annual festival, or your transportation broke down and you were forced to make an emergency landing.

  Despite what you may think about Vulcans and their reserved nature, the locals are actually very tolerant of the behavior associated with this often boisterous season. This is aided by the large number of outworlders who have established permanent residence on Vulcan and operate businesses in the region. Still, visitors are expected to respect the natives.

  The lake is a popular destination for university students from numerous planets and, in recent years, has become a favored setting for Starfleet Academy cadets who make the trip from Earth or one of the other campuses. A number of myths, legends, and outright lies have been propagated over the years with respect to what happens at the lake, so let us help with some of the more persistent fables:

  MYTH: It’s total bedlam here. Originally intended as a time of reflection and restorative meditation and exercise at the beginning of each new calendar year, the uzhaya wak-krus has evolved to encompass seasonal traditions from several worlds. The influx of younger visitors, particularly Starfleet Academy cadets and students from universities on dozens of planets, has given the annual observance an added flair. Though partiers are given a great deal of latitude, the constabulary ensures that order is maintained. Don’t try to argue with Vulcan cops. If they’ve put restraints on you, the logical conclusion is that you did something wrong.

  TRUTH: If you’re a student and think you’ll catch up on your term papers or other homework during your week off, quit lying to yourself. Don’t even bring your datapad.

  MYTH: The locals hate it. Definitely not true. Most restaurants, clubs, and shops bring in extra workers to handle the upsurge in business. Even the students from the P’Tranek Monastery have been known to descend from the foothills on occasion to partake in the various festivities, though they always do so in a forthright and logical fashion.

  LODGING

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  Hotels are plentiful in and around the lake region. Discerning visitors likely will want to avoid the typical beachfront shanties and smaller hotels with attached clubs or entertainment venues and opt instead for one of the quieter, all-inclusive resorts and hotels situated farther from the water. However, if you’re here for the party, there are deals and packages aplenty enticing patrons to the numerous lakeside hotels and inns.

  Alwa’laha Inn

  The larger resorts and trendy hotels have nothing on this landmark bed and breakfast, owned and operated by a small, dedicated staff. Traditional Vulcan decor and dining are the order of the day, and guests are invited to help tend the garden that provides the fruits and vegetables for every meal. As one might imagine, this isn’t the first lodging choice for your typical vacationer. The inn is also the region’s primary supplier of pla-savas, a rich citrus-like fruit used in a variety of food and beverage recipes around the lake. For those who might benefit from such information, pla-sava juice is often prescribed as a fast, simple hangover remedy.

  Esh-fam

  Sure, you’re vacationing on a desert planet, so why not spend part of that time underwater? This one-of-a-kind hotel situated on the lake’s southeastern shore has three dozen suites accessible only by turbolift as you descend fifty meters beneath the surface. Each room features curved transparasteel windows, which offer unfettered views of life beneath the lake, so don’t be surprised by the curious onlookers you’re liable to attract. It’s not uncommon for families of dolphin-like o’ktath to bump their noses against the transparent barriers in a bid for attention. The latter half of the year is when the kylin’the bloom. This plant only thrives in or near the planet’s few water sources and is abundant in the lake’s shallow areas, growing across rocks and artificial underwater structures.

  The Fountains of Lamneth

  Ancient architecture merges with modern sparkle to create an eye-popping hotel that commands attention from anywhere around the lake. Taking its cues from several Vulcan temples and shrines, the hotel’s marble façade extends to an immense 80-meter pool and surrounding deck. The fountains that give the hotel its name are active all year long and are as unique as the hotel itself, depicting scenes and figures from across Vulcan history. Guided tours take you beneath the surface to a subterranean waterfall and along several tunnels from a trillium mine that in ancient times drew prospectors to the region.

  The Slumbering Sehlat

  Located some distance from the madness that can consume the waterfront properties during the height of tourist season, this modest collection of lodges is found in the foothills west of the lake. Given its proximity to the P’Tranek Monastery, quiet and serenity are the orders of the day here, which might be the perfect prescription for visitors looking to refresh their minds and spirits as well as their bodies. Hot and cold mountain spring water feeds the twenty-four natural pools scattered across the property, and the hotel’s private botanical gardens play host to flora from around the planet as well as several other worlds. Botanists from the Vulcan Science Academy have achieved a near-perfect harmony here, cultivating a variety of specimens from the planet’s different, often disparate, regions. Adun cactus plants stand among a field of lush g’tesh bushes. Plomeek, gespar, and soltar plants from the garden are used to make soup and other delicacies served in the visitor dining areas.

  DEALING WITH AN UNEXPECTED OR UNWANTED KATRA

  IMAGINE THE SCENE: There you are, minding your own business. Maybe you’re enjoying a nice meal at an inviting outdoor cafe in the marketplace or relaxing by the pool after a long, hot day spent touring some ancient ruins at the outskirts of the city.

  Then, one of the locals is suddenly gripped by some kind of debilitating injury or illness, and it happens right in front of you. You’ve called for help, and emergency response personnel are on the way, but what else can you do? You lean close to him or her, hoping to help in some way, and that’s when it happens. The stricken Vulcan reaches up and places their fingers on your face. Bam! Your minds are merging, and before you know it, your minds are one.

  Mind meld.

  Awkward.

  But, that’s not all. When the victim’s hand falls away, you suddenly realize it’s a lot more crowded inside your mind than it was a few minutes ago. Now, you’ve got a whole bunch of new thoughts up there, and not all of them are yours.

  Congratulations, outworlder! You’re now the proud owner of a dying Vulcan’s katra.

  Now, you’re probably thinking this isn’t a common happenstance, and you’d be correct. The transferring of a katra—a Vulcan’s living spirit—usually happens between beings who are telepaths, but pretty much anyone can be a participant, willing or otherwise.

  Once the transfer is complete, you may become overwhelmed with sudden desires to emulate the behavior of the consciousness you’re harboring. Go with that feeling. You should also find the nearest law enforcement or government office and explain your situation, as there are procedures for dealing with katras transferred into unprepared recipients. The potential good news is that unless you already happen to be there, Vulcan High Masters will whisk you away for a three-day, two-night al
l expenses paid trip to Mount Seleya, where you’ll participate in an ancient Vulcan ceremony, the fal-tor-pan, so that the katra you’re carrying can be transferred to an Adept or someone else better suited for handling it.

  Please note that katra-hosting is not something visitors should seek out on their own. Almost without exception, katras are transferred to Vulcans who are practiced in the mental arts and who have prepared for the responsibilities they undertake. Only on rare occasions has a non-Vulcan played host to a katra, and to say that results are unpredictable is putting it mildly. Curious or adventurous tourists are advised to steer clear.